Julia Larson

1 month ago | winespectator.com | Greg Warner |Julia Larson |Aaron Romano

Who's behind it: Restaurateur Stephen Starr and his Starr Restaurants group reopened, and reimagined, a legendary Washington, D.C., restaurant: the Occidental. Located in the historic Willard Hotel, just a block from the White House, the restaurant has been a dining destination for the country's political leaders since opening in 1906. Starr took over ownership a year and a half ago, following a pandemic-induced closure.

2 months ago | winespectator.com | Greg Warner |Julia Larson |Collin Dreizen

Who's behind it: Earlier this year, chef and restaurateur Michael White opened Santi in Midtown Manhattan. Located on the ground floor of Tishman Speyer's 520 Madison Avenue, this is the latest restaurant-and the first in New York-from BBianco Hospitality, which White co-founded with business partner Bruce Bronster in 2020. But this isn't White's first venture within the building: The same space formerly housed Alto, one of the chef's earliest successes, before it closed in 2011.

2 months ago | winespectator.com | Julia Larson

In 1990, on a sleepy corner of Lower Manhattan's Tribeca neighborhood, chef and restaurateur Drew Neiporent (the force behind fine dining venues Montrachet and Nobu) and Academy Award-winning actor Robert De Niro caused a stir with the opening of Tribeca Grill. In the decades that followed, the Wine Spectator Grand Award winner's dining room would be filled with Hollywood stars, wine world legends and lovers of the good life. Now, those days are coming to a close.

2 months ago | winespectator.com | Julia Larson

What's happening: Not long after expanding Nancy Silverton's Italian gem Osteria Mozza to Washington, D.C., restaurateur Stephen Starr announced last week that he purchased an Italian dining landmark in Manhattan, Babbo Ristorante e Enoteca, along with its less-expensive neighborhood sibling Lupa, from the Bastianich family.

Jan 23, 2025 | winespectator.com | Julia Larson

If one thing is certain about the restaurant industry, it's that things change: Fresh faces come onto the scene, established chefs seek a change of pace, restaurant groups try to tap into up-and-coming trends. Below are eight exciting, upcoming openings that we at Wine Spectator think will stand out in 2025, including a Caribbean-influenced spot from an acclaimed group, an iconic Florida restaurant getting a second life from a leading chef, and much more.